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M..A. KELLER. Grain Binder.

,5 Shets-Sheet 1" Patented Aug. 3,1880.

N PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, D Q

M. A. KELLER.

Grain Binder. No. 230,705. Patented Aug. .3, 1880.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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M. KELLER.

Grain Binder. No. 230,705. Patented Aug. 3,1880.

5 sheets-Sheet 3.

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5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

M. A. KELLER.

Grain Binder. No. 230,705. Patented Aug. 3,1880.

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Grain Binder. No. 230,705. Patented Au 3,1880.

1? J M www %M I N. PETERS. FNOTO-LITHOGRAFHEIVI, WASHINGTON, D C

NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MOSES A. KELLER, OF BROGKPORT, NEW YORK..

GRAIN-BINDER.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 230,705, dated August3, 1880.

Application filed February 17, 1880.

the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification,wherein- Figure 1 is a front elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is a topview, and Fig. 3 is an end elevation,,of the same. Fig. 4 is a planview, partly in section, of the automatic shipping mechanism; and Figs.5, 6, 7 are detail views of the same. Fig. 8 is alongitudinal sectionalelevation of the binding-arm mechanism. Fig.

- 9 represents an equivalent construction of the difi'erentialshipping-gear.

Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts in the differentfigures.

The object of this invention is to improve the binding mechanism o fharvesting machines; and it more specifically consists in an apparatusfor varying the distances between the bundles by an automatic shippingmechanism and novel compound movement of the binding-arm.

The invention further consists in the construction and arrangement ofvarious devices and combinations of devices, as hereinafter describedand claimed.

As motion is imparted from the drivingwheel to the gearing operating thebinding mechanism, the speed of the latter must always bear a fixedrelation to the space traversed by the driving-wheel; but as the graingrowing in difierent'places, even in the same field, oftenvaries inquality, it is essential that the speed of the binding mechanism shouldbe adjusted to produce bundles of uniform size, or as near so aspossible, and that, too, without the constant attention of the attendantor driver.

In previous machines of this class the variation of the distancesbetween the bundles, so as to produce bundles of uniform size, hasgenerally been accomplished by stopping the machine to substitutedifferent gears, or by the constant attention of the driver, who muststart the binding mechanism at random, or else let the machine dischargethe bundles at equal distances apart for the entire round or field,regardless of the condition of the grain. \Vhen the attention of thedriver is constantly divided it very frequently happens that the bundlesare either too small or too large, causing deraugements, breaks, delays,&c.

In my improvement all the foregoing difliculties are entirely overcome-It is only necessary for the attendant or driver to adjust, by means ofa lever or handle placed within easy reach, the automatic shippingmechanism to the desired distance he wishes the bundles delivered. Thedistances between the bundles to be delivered are indicated upon thelocking mechanism of the adjusting-lever, and so arranged as to he inview of the attendant. After the lever has been adjusted, say, for abundle at every eight feet, the machine will continue to deliver thebundles at that distance apart in the forward movement of the machinefiIf the condition of the grain or any other reason makes it necessarythat the bundles should he delivered less or more frequently, it is onlya matter of a moment for the driver to move the lever to the indicatednumber of feet he wishes the bundles delivered, and the automaticshipping mechanism will their cause the binding mechanism to deliver thebundles regularly at that distance.

The adjustment of the shipping mechanism can readily be made while themachine is in operation, and one or twoadjustments of the automaticshipping mechanism for each round to be cut may suffice to producepractically uniform bundles throughout the whole field.

It will thus be seen that only a small amount of attention of the driveris required in controlling the binder. He can therefore give the most ofhis attention to guiding his team, thereby doing more and better workthan would be possible if he had to judge of the size of the bundles andstart the binder for every bundle to be delivered.

That others may fully understand the construction and operation of myimprovements, I will proceed to describe them in detail.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A, B, O, D, E,'and H representso much of a harvesting-machine as is necessary to exhibit myimprovements in a practical working form;

IOC

but. this particular construction of the harvesteris not material. Anyother construction or any ordinary harvester in use can readily becombined or fitted with the invention.

F and G denote the grain-receptacle, also of ordinary construction.

The main portion of my invention is plainly shown in Figs. 4, 6, and 8.In Fig.4 the shaft and cog-wheel I) may represent the main motor or axleof the drive-wheel A, which, by means ofthe wheelU, gives a rotarymotion to the shaft 0'. This last shaft may be considered as theprincipal operating-shaft for the binding mechanism. It is provided witha clutch-shipping mechanism, whereby the binding mechanism is putin andout of action.

The clutch S is feathered upon the shaft 0' and rotates with said shaft.The shipper S is held loosely in a groove around the clutch. When rcsting with its projection S upon the end of the shaft 1 it is prevented fromrevolving with the clutch.

Mounted upon the end of the shaft 0' is a sleeve, t, which is providedat one end with clutch-teeth to engage with the sliding clutch S. Uponthe other end of said sleeveis keyed a cog-wheel, n, which projectsbeyond the journal-box r. This wheel gears into a correspond ing wheels,I)", which is mounted upon the lower end of the shaft (1, which shaftcommunicates motion to the binding mechanism.

Mounted upon the sleeve it, between thejournal-box 'r and the clutch, isan adjustable collar, P, provided with a projecting stud or pin, (1,which engages with the incline S of shipper S, to move and hold theclutch S out of engagement at each complete revolution of the sleeve.The sleeve beingfitted loosely upon the shaft, it becomes stationary atthe moment the clutch is disengaged, and hence all the bind ingmechanism is out of action.

The object of making the collar P adj ustable is to stop the binding armand mechanism at any desired point after the binding has been completed.The adjustment is made by simply loosening the set-screw to, moving thecollar with the pin q to the proper point, and tightening up again theset-screw.

Rigidly secured to the shaft 0 are differential gear-wheels d c f, whichgear into and drive the differential wheels a b c, which wheels runloose upon the tubular shaft g, except under certain conditions, which Iwill presently explain.

The object of the differential gears is to give a differential motion tothe shaft g, which shaft has for its function to operate the shipper Sby means of the projecting stud 0r pin m. Said shaftis only rotated whenthe pin 2' of the sliding shaft h is brought in contact with one of thewheels to b c, which wheels are provided with several keyways, Z. (SeeFig. 5.)

The pin or key 71 projects through a slot in the shaft g.

When the shaft h is moved endwise the pin or key 'ijwill engage with oneof the keyways 1 of the desired whee1,and thereby cause the shaft g torotate with the wheel thus secured; but when the pin or key istandsdnone of the free chambers J, as shown in Fi 4, the shaft g will becomestationary. The main object, however, of the free chambers J is toprevent all danger of breaking any part of the mechanism in shiftingfrom wheel to wheel while the machine is in motion.

Fig. 9 represents an equivalentconstruction of the differential wheels.This plan will a1 low the wheels to be broughtinto a more compact formwhen. for any reason,it is necessary to have a considerable number ofthem or there is not sufficient space to admit themin the plan shown inFig. 4.

When the shaft grotates it will at each revolution raise the shipper S,by means of the pin m coming in contact with the projecting flange S ofshipper S, and thereby throw the shipper from the pin q of collar P,when the spring P will drive the clutch S into engagement with thesleeve t and start the binding mechanism, in the manner beforedescribed.

To fully understand the object of the differential gears, suppose thewheels c and fare proportioned to give one revolution to the shaft 9 toevery eight-feet traverse of the drivingwheel or forward movement of themachine. This will cause the binding mechanism to deliver the bundles atthat distance apart. If the wheels 11 6 will cause one revolution of theshaft g in every ten-feetadvance of the machine the bundles will bedelivered at that distance apart. The other pair may be pro portioned totrip the shipper every twelve feet, and so on for as many differentwheels as may be employed. The gears can,ot' course, be proportioned togive any desired distance,and the invention is not limited to the abovedistances.

For the convenience of the attendant in adjusting the automatic shippingmechanism to the distances he wishes the bundles to be delivered whilethe machine is in motion, I apply a lever or handle, T, to the shafth,and arrange it conveniently within reach of the driver or attendant, andalso provide a stopping or locking mechanism, V, for the lever T. Thenotches or holes of the stop V are marked to indicate the distancebetween the bundles. If the lever is moved to allow the pin to enter thehole marked 8 the shipper will be automatically tripped at everyeightfeet advance of the machine. The spring V prevents the lever frommoving of its own ac its middle to a suitable support, \V, but it' isobvious that the lever may be constructed and arranged in a greatvariety of ways and forms without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

It, for any reason, it is desirable to stop the operation of theautomatic shipping mechanism, it is only necessary to move the lever tothe holes in the stop V which aremarked with the 0. Then the pin 1. onthe sliding shaft h will stand in one of the free chambers J, and: thewheels a b will be free to turn upon the shaft g without giving motionto it, thus preventing the automatic trippingof the shipper S.

Pivoted to the shipper S is a rod, It, which connects the vibratingcrank Q with the shipper S- vAt the outer end of the same shaft to whichthe crank Q is secured is a. crank, .P, which, by means of a rod, M,bell-crank N, and rod 0, connects with the foot-lever L. This provides ameans by which the driver may start the binding mechanism independent ofthe automatic shipping mechanism.

I will now proceed to describe the mechanism for operating thebinding-arm.

It will be observed, by reference to the dotted line S, Fig, 1, that theextremity of the binding-arm X has a peculiar compound movement, similarto that of the human arm, in encirclin g a gavel of grain for thepurpose of binding the same.

Similar binding-arms have been and are in use with wire binding ortwisting mechanism but their movement and their operating mechanism areentirely different.

p The first object of the peculiar motion of the extreme point of mybinding-arm is to suc cessfully adapt it to binding with cord instead ofwith wire, althoughthis motion could readily be used for wire as well asfor cord. By my plan of giving the arm a peculiar vertical andhorizontal movement, with periods of rest, Ican readily adapt it to anykind of tying mechanism, as I can form the cam in the revolving cylinderD in such a manner as to give the arm any desirable vertical movement,nd by iny plan of producing the horizontal vibration of the arm I canalso cause thearm to remain stationary at eitherend of its horizontalstroke, so that the arm may descend perpendicularly through the grain,then swing horizontally outward with the bundle, and remain stationaryduring the operation of uniting the ends of the applied band withoutarrestingthe motion of the operating mechanism. 1 can also give the arman y amount of vertical movement in either direction during 'theoperation of uniting the ends of the applied hand without aflectin g thehorizontal movement of the arm or its periods of rest. These areimportant points in connection with cord-binding, which must beconsidered before success can be attained.

I do not propose to limit this invention to any particular tyingmechanism, and therefore do not show any.- In practice, I locate thetying mechanism at the rear end and under side of the grain-receptacle,in close proX- imity to the extremity of the binding-arm at theconclusion of its outward stroke, with a bundle preparatory to binding,and operate said tying mechanism by any suitable connection from thewheel 6 or shaft 61, as the case may require.

The binding-arm X is pivoted to the vertical vibrating shaft f (See Fig.8.) This shaft;

is free to vibrate in the support Z, and is rigidly secured to thehorizontal vibrating bar or arm T. On the lower end of the shaft f isloosely mounted the cam-cylinder D To the upper surface of thecam-cylinder is rigidly secured the cog-wheel 0', which gears into thewheel 0, thereby communicating motion to the cam-cylinder, which turnsfreely upon the shaftf', and is held in placeby the nutf.

Pivoted to the arm X is the rod Y, which is provided at its lower endwith a roller to travel in the cam way 2. of the cam-cylinder causes therod Y to move the extremity of the arm X up and down.

Pivoted to the vib *ating bar or arm T 'is a slotted pitman, a", (seeFig. 2,) which is operated by a suitable wrist-pin on the cog-wheel 6.This pitman gives the horizontal vibrating motion to the bindingarm withits periods of rest during the operation of binding a bundle. Thevibrating bar or arm T extends laterally beyond the point of thebinding-arm when it is down, and acts against the same to assist inmoving it outward with the bundle.

(See T, Fig. 2, and dotted line, Fig. 8.)

The rod Y passes through a guide attached to the arm T, and is thus heldin the proper during the rotation of the former, so as to control thevertical vibration of the latter at all points.

Havingdescribed m yinventiou, what I claim as new is- 1. In combinationwith the binding mechanism of a harvester, a series or" differentialgear-wheels mounted loosely upon a shaft, a device for engaging any oneof said wheels with said shaft, and apin',m, or its equivalent, securedto and rotating with said shaft to conand for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the binding mechanism of a harvesting machine,of a series of differential gear-wheels mounted and grouped loosely upona shaft, corresponding wheels in the train of gear which drives saidbinding mechanism, whereby motion is communicated to said differentialgears, a mechanism for controlling said differential gears, and ashipping mechanism controlled automaticallyby said differential gears todetermine the distances between the bundles, as set forth.

3. In combination with an automatic grainbinding mechanism, a series ofdifferential gears, a clutch, and intermediate mechanism under controlof said differential gears, whereby the binding mechanism is set inmotion, as and for the purpose set forth.

. 4. In combination with the automatic binding mechanism of a harvester,a series of differential gear-wheels, a clutch in the train of gearwhich drives the binding mechanism, intermediate operating mechanismcontrolled by said differential gears, and a mechanism for automaticallydisengaging said clutch at the conclusion of each binding operation,substanut lly as set forth.

By this means the rotation relation to the cam-cylinder and binding-armtrol the shipping mechanism, substantially as 1 5. In combination withan automatic binding mechanism, a clutch in the train of gear whichdrives said binding mechanism, a shipper pivoted upon said clutch, aseries of differential gear-wheels, and intermediate operating mechanismfor operating the shipper to determine the distances between thebundles, as set forth.

6. In a grain-binding machine, the differential gear-wheels a be, withor without the chambered rims K, in combination with the mechanism forautomatically tripping the clutch shipping mechanism, substantially asdescribed.

7. The combination of the tubular shaft g, provided with a pin, m, orits equivalent, for moving the shipper, a series of difl'erentialgear-wheels mounted loosely upon said shaft, a sliding adjustable shaft,h, within the tubular shaft, a lever, T, connected to said sliding"shaft, and a stop, V, for locking thelever and shaft in position,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination of an automatic binding mechanism, an automaticrevolving sliding clntch,a vibrating shipper turning upon the clutch, arevolving pin or cam, m, for operating the shipper, a series ofdifli'erential gears for operating the pin or cam m, a sliding shaft forcontrolling the gears, a lever for controlling the shaft,and a stop forholding the same, the whole constructed, combined, and arrangedsubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination, in an automatic grainbinding mechanism, of ahorizontal and vertical vibrating binding-arm pivoted upon a verticalstationary vibrating shaft, f, a geared revolving cam-cylinder, I),mounted loosely upon the shaft f, for imparting a vertical vibratingmotion to the extremity of the bindingarm, a horizontal gear-wheel, e,for driving the cam-cylinder and vibrating the shaft f,

and bar T, these members being constructed and combined for operationsubstantially as described.

10. The combination of a horizontal and vertical vibrating binding-armpivoted upon a vertical stationary vibrating shaft, f, arevolvingcaineylinder, D and the connectingrod Y, pivoted to the binding-arm X,and provided at its lower end with aroller for engagin g the cam-groove2,allconstructed and combined substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

11. The combination of the cam-cylinder D on the shaft f, the rod Y,with its roller, to engage the cam-groove 2, the cog-wheels e and c, thepitman N, and the bar or arm T all constructed and arranged foroperation substantially as shown and described, for the purpose ofgiving to the binding-arm X a vertical and horizontal vibration and avaria blc period of rest.

12. The combination of the stationary frame Z, supporting the verticalshaft f, the camcylinder D mounted upon said shaft below thesupporting-frame Z, a bar or arm, T rig- (lly secured upon the shat'tf,between the "supporting-frame and the cam-cylinder, and

therod Y, guided bythebarorarm,these members being combined and arrangedfor operation substantially as shown and described, and for the purposeset forth.

13. The combination of the binding-arm mechanisn'i, whereby a variablehorizontal and vertical vibrating motion is imparted to it, andmechanism for suspending its movement during the operation of unitingthe ends of the hand without arresting the motion of the dri\"ingmechanism, substantially as described.

MOSES A. KELLER.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN H. KINGSBURY, M. Minor.

